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The study examined the influence of jumping ability on throwing speed and accuracy in 35 male handball players. Professional players demonstrated superior accuracy and speed compared to amateurs. Jumping ability was identified as a robust predictor of competitive level and exhibited a positive correlation with throwing performance.
Throwing the ball to score a goal in handball is a critical action for success in offensive play. Speed and accuracy are two determining factors for successful throws. While there is substantial research on the importance of these factors, discrepancies exist regarding their relationship. This study aims to analyze the impact of jumping ability on throwing speed and accuracy across different competitive levels in handball. Thirty-five male handball players were recruited from amateur and professional levels. Jumping ability was assessed and throwing speed and accuracy were measured using a high-performance sports radar. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between amateur and professional groups in countermovement jump (CMJ) and throwing speed jump. The comparative analysis revealed significant differences in throwing speed and in correct and incorrect throws, with large to very large effect sizes. Pearson's r correlation indicated significant correlations between throwing speed jump and CMJ, countermovement jump left (CMJL), and countermovement jump right (CMJR), and between throwing speed deficit and CMJL in the total sample. The results show that professional handball players exhibit higher throwing accuracy and speed compared to amateurs. Throwing speed and accuracy are positively correlated with performance in male handball players.
Throwing in handball is a technical action of great importance for scoring goals and its effectiveness is considered the most important factor for success in competition1. Throwing effectiveness depends on two variables: speed and accuracy2,3. The highest accuracy is not achieved when the player uses the highest throwing speed but is greatly improved by training1,4. Higher velocity can increase the distance at which the thrower is effective, as long as a certain degree of accuracy is maintained5,6,7. This requires practical exercises that increase the ability to accelerate the arm in a coordinated manner2,8,9. There is a limited amount of research that has thoroughly examined the specific dynamics of throwing velocity and accuracy during competitive games, with indications that players often abstain from employing their maximum throwing velocity even when a higher percentage of hits are achieved7.
However, different studies have analyzed jumping ability in handball players as one of the key factors in throwing performance10,11, since a longer flight time allows the throwing gesture to be fully coordinated, gain more angle with respect to the goal, overcome defenders, and react to the goalkeeper's movements12. Other studies indicate that the strength of the lower extremities is also closely related to throwing speed13.
We can consider jump height as a performance factor in elite handball that can serve as a discriminant for talent detection in amateur handball players. Given that there is scientific evidence highlighting variations in jumping metrics, such as the countermovement jump (CMJ) across different player levels14, this evidence underscores the relevance of jumping ability in performance. Previous studies tended to have ecological validity, as they analyzed real competitive environments.
Our study focuses on a controlled environment without match-specific pressures such as fatigue, defensive interference, biomechanical factors, or tactical decision-making. The hypothesis of this study is that "jumping ability improves throwing speed and accuracy in handball, and professional players show greater benefits than amateur players." Consequently, this study aims to evaluate the impact of jumping ability on both speed and accuracy of throws, considering the competitive level of handball players. Studying how jumping ability improves the speed and accuracy of handball throws is crucial to optimizing sporting performance. Among professionals, advanced coordination and training maximizes these benefits while in amateurs, it can identify key areas for development.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of CEIC Aragón (CEICA) nº 10/2021. We recruited from the 1st Spanish National Handball League, which is the highest category of the Spanish ASOBAL Handball League. Informed consent was obtained from all players and/or their legal guardians prior to data collection.
1. Recruiting participants
NOTE: A total of 35 male handball players who actively participated at both amateur and professional levels were recruited in this study (Table 1).
n | Age (years) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Exp (years) | |
Amateur | 22 | 22.01 ± 2.57 | 184.07 ±6.74 | 84.14 ± 13.78 | 13.5 ± 3.94 |
Professional | 13 | 26.99 ± 5.54 | 188.00 ± 6.37 | 91.33 ± 10.89 | 15.62 ± 5.69 |
Table 1: Characteristics of the players. Abbreviation: Exp = experience in handball training (years).
2. Familiarization with the measurements and testing protocol
3. Measurements
4. Data collection
Figure 1: Jumping and throwing measurements. Evaluation of throwing accuracy. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, which confirmed the appropriateness of the parametric tests. When analyzing the similarities in the results between the amateur and professional groups (Table 2), an independent samples t-test revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the groups in the CMJ and throwing speed jump variables.
In this study, the findings indicate that professional players demonstrate greater shot accuracy than amateur players under conditions of maximum speed-accuracy instructions. These results are consistent with existing scientific literature that has explored the relationship between velocity and accuracy2,9,17. This research indicates that concentrating on reaching maximum speed does not automatically reduce accuracy in professio...
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
The authors would like to thank all the participants in this study. This work was supported by the Government of Aragon, Research Group ValorA, under Grant No. S08_20R.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
DAPA Measurement Toolkit | MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK | Not Applicable | Measure intake of macronutrients and energy |
Digital video camera | Sony HXR-MC50P; Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan | HXR-MC50P | 20 Hz high-speed camera and capable of recording at a resolution between 720 and 1080 p. |
G*Power tool | Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany | 3.1.9.7 | Estimation of sample size |
Molten handballs | Molten Corp., Hiroshima, Japan | H3X5001-BW | Circumference: 58-60 mm; weight: 425-475 g |
My Jump 2 APP | Carlos Balsalobre | 2.0 | iPhone X 15 was used, featuring a 120 Hz high-speed camera with a resolution of 720 p. |
Sports radar | Stalker Radar, Texas, USA | Stalker Pro 2 | Stalker Pro 2 Radar Gun, Applied Concepts, Inc./ |
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